Values for a Lifetime

It’s been a good week for our Catholic schools! Earlier this week, we learned that Chaminade-Julienne and Carroll High Schools were named recipients of the 2011 Governors’ Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEMM education. This prestigious award recognizes schools who received a perfect score in a state evaluation of their Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (i.e. “STEMM”) programs. As two of only five schools given the award this year, CJ and Carroll are truly setting the standard for outstanding STEMM education in our state.

On Wednesday, local newspapers published lists of semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship. Catholic schools were heavily represented among the listed schools. Of the 212 students named as semi-finalists in the state, 50 of the listed students were from the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. This strong showing demonstrates the high quality of the academic programs of our Catholic high schools.

On Thursday, we learned that St. Albert the Great School in Dayton was approved as an Autism Provider for the state of Ohio. As an Autism Provider, St. Albert will allow students who are diagnosed with Autism to have access to the Ohio Autism Scholarship. To become an Autism provider, schools must participate in a vigorous evaluation process and ensure that they are properly equipped and staffed to support students with Autism. St. Albert joins a list of eleven Archdiocesan Catholic schools designated as providers for the 2011-2012 school year.

Finally, we learned on Thursday that two of our Catholic schools will be receiving the National Blue Ribbon Award. All Saints and St. Columban Catholic Schools will be honored with the Blue Ribbon from the US Department of Education. As Blue Ribbon recipients, these schools have demonstrated an outstanding quality of education in their school. These schools join a large list of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese who have been recognized with this award in prior years.

The good news about our schools just keeps coming! Such accolades are affirming of the tremendous quality and impact of our Catholic schools. Congratulations to all!